Peruvian Textile Tour
EXPLORING ANDEAN TE X TI LE A R TS WI TH A N D R E A H E C K M A N
TRIP DATES
November 2-13, 2016
®
Wilderness Travel
ITINERARY
3
TRIP COST, PAYMENT
& INSURANCE
8
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
9
TRIP LEADERS
9
TRIP DETAILS
10
Peruvian Textile Tour
EXPLO R I N G A N D E A N TE X TI LE A R TS WI TH A N D R E A H EC K M A N
A N D N I LD A C A LLA Ñ A U PA
Whether you’re a textile enthusiast or an adventure traveler who wants to
experience traditional Andean life far off the beaten path, we invite you to join
us on this remarkable journey. Visit remote weaving communities accompanied
by WT Trip Leader Andrea Heckman and Quechua master weaver Nilda
Callañaupa, and try your hand on a backstrap loom and drop spindle. In
Nilda’s hometown of Chinchero, you’ll enjoy a traditional Andean lunch
and take part in a natural dye workshop. Along with an in-depth experience
with the descendents of the Incas, you’ll encounter many of the greatest
archaeological sites of the Incan Empire: the massive ceremonial center of
Sacsayhuaman above Cusco, the fortresses of Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the
Sacred Valley, the water shrine of Tipón, and, the most celebrated of all, the
storybook ruins of Machu Picchu! This incredible non-profit tour benefits the
weaving communities of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco as they
revitalize techniques dating back to pre-Columbian times.
®
Wilderness Travel
1102 Ninth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
800-368-2794 • 510-558-2488
www.wildernesstravel.com • [email protected]
Itinerary
DAY 1, NOVEMBER 2
LIMA, PERU
Arrive in the late evening at the Lima airport, where you will be met for the
walk to the Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel, located beside the airport.
Trip Leader Andrea Heckman will be waiting to greet you at the hotel front
desk. Overnight at Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel...meals on your own
DAY 2, NOVEMBER 3
TO CUSCO, PERU
Return to the airport terminal and connect with a spectacular flight over
the Andes to Cusco (11,200’). Upon arrival, we are transferred to the Hotel
Picoaga, located just steps from Cusco’s main square, the Plaza de Armas. We
meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, Director of the Center for Traditional Textiles
of Cusco (CTTC), for a cup of coca tea, and the afternoon is free to rest and
acclimatize to Cusco’s 11,200-foot altitude, or to explore on your own. Lunch
is on your own. In the evening we gather for a Welcome Dinner at a local
restaurant. Overnight at Hotel Picoaga...BD
DAY 3, NOVEMBER 4
EXPLORE CUSCO
In the morning, we explore magnificent Saqsayhuaman, the majestic Inca
fortress overlooking Cusco. With its three tiers of outer walls made of massive
and perfectly fitted limestone blocks, it is the largest and one of the most
impressive Inca sites in existence. The zig-zag configuration of its walls may
indicate that it was a temple dedicated to the Inca’s important lightning god,
although some scholars feel the zig-zags represent the teeth of a puma. After
lunch at a resetaurant in Cusco’s picturesque San Blas neighborhood, we enjoy
a walking tour through central Cusco for a glimpse into the ceremonial heart
of the Inca Empire. Our walk includes a visit to the Coricancha, a sacred Inca
temple whose walls were once covered with sheets of gold, Plaza de Armas, the
baroque cathedral, built on the site of an old Inca palace., and the Museo Inka.
Dinner is on your own this evening. Overnight at Hotel Picoaga...BL
TRIP DETAILS AT-A-GLANCE
Length: 12 days
Arrive:
Lima, Peru
Depart: Lima, Peru
Lodging: 11 nights hotels
Meals:
All meals included except
3 lunches and 3 dinners
Activity: Archaeology, Cultural
Adventures, Hiking /
Trekking
Trip Level:
Cultural explorations and
walking tours, altitudes up
to 12,000 feet
HIGHLIGHTS
• Short day hikes and charming hotels
• Visit weavers and spinners in
Quechua villages
• Explore magnificent Machu Picchu,
with an overnight below the ruins
Cusco: Inhabited by proto-Incas as early as the 12th century AD, Cusco was
completely rebuilt in the early 15th century by Pachacuteq, the Inca warriorking. He is credited with creating the Incas’ form of worship, system of
government, and the distinctive masonry style we still marvel at today. Cusco
was the heart of Tahuantinsuyo, the Land of the Four Quarters, as the Incas
called their kingdom. The boundary lines of each quarter of the kingdom
originated from the main plaza. An elegant imperial city, Cusco was laid out
in the shape of a puma. The great fortress of Saqsayhuaman formed its head,
while palaces, temples, squares, and streets formed the puma’s body and legs.
Cusco’s paved avenues were flanked by temples, and there were rock-hewn
palaces with gold- and jewel-encrusted doors and villas for the brilliantly
clad Inca nobles and their retinues. The capital’s opulent inner sanctum was
the Coricancha, or House of the Sun, once a glittering temple to the gods,
full of golden statues (today it forms the foundation for the colonial Santo
800-368-2794 | 510-558-2488 | [email protected]
3
Itinerary
(cont’d)
Domingo church). Although the Spaniards looted the gold and silver from the
elaborate Inca temples, most of Cusco remained undisturbed after Pizarro, the
Spanish conqueror, made his triumphant entrance into the city in 1533. But
in 1536, Manco II, the rebel Inca, led an attack against the Spanish. His men
used slingshots to rain hot coals into the city, setting it ablaze. The Spanish
triumphed, but the once-glorious city was left a smoking ruin.
DAY 4, NOVEMBER 5
CUSCO
Today we join Nilda for a tour of the center, followed by a weaving workshop or
a walk in Cusco with Andrea. Lunch is on your own. We gather for dinner at a
local restaurant. Overnight at hotel...BD
DAY 5, NOVEMBER 6
URUBAMBA VALLEY / PISAC / OLLANTAYTAMBO
Today we head to the Urubamba Valley, sacred to the Incas for many reasons,
a key one being that it has a moderate climate and fertile plains, a rare
combination in the high Andes. It is also the route to the jungle, from which
the Incas liked to bring tropical fruits and plants (including coca, which was,
and still is, used in rituals). The valley is well known for its spectacular Incabuilt terracing, used during Inca times for growing maize, a prestige crop
that needed irrigation in the dry highlands. Our drive brings us to Pisac, a
famous temple ruin clinging to a mountain spur. Set on a high promontory
and filled with wonderful examples of Inca stonework and engineering, Pisac
was the largest fortress-city complex of the Incas, yet it is another enigma to
archaeologists. It was a classic Inca pucara, a huge defended area into which
4
WILDERNESS TRAVEL | www.wildernesstravel.com
the entire population of a wide area could retreat during a military threat. But
despite its natural defenses, the Incas made no stand here against the Spaniards.
The fine Inca terraces of Pisac are still cultivated by local inhabitants, and
the terracing exhibited here reflects a level of engineering ingenuity unrivaled
anywhere else in South America. With its high-status temple architecture and
elaborate visual design, it may have been a royal estate or a ceremonial center
like Machu Picchu. After our picnic lunch with views high over the Urubamba
Valley, we ascend to Chahauytiri, an Andean community of weavers, who use
backstrap looms to create their beautiful textiles. We spend the afternoon here
and enjoy meeting the weavers. Overnight at El Albergue, a charming hotel in
Ollantaytambo...BLD
DAY 6, NOVEMBER 7
OLLANTAYTAMBO / ACCHA ALTA
In the early morning—when the light is dramatic and there are fewer people—
we visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, a major Inca fortress where the rebel
Manco Inca and his men held out against Pizarro’s forces in one of the only
battles the Spaniards lost. We then visit the exquisite traditional village of
Ollantaytambo, a living Inca village that retains the stonework, narrow streets,
and family courtyards of its original Inca plan. Afterwards, we head to the
community of Accha Alta and spend the afternoon with its weavers and
knitters, who use only natural fibers including sheep and alpaca wool to create
their exquisite weavings. Return to El Albergue for dinner and overnight...
BLD
DAY 7, NOVEMBER 8
EXPLORING MACHU PICCHU
Catching the morning train from Ollantaytambo to the town of Aguas
Calientes, we transfer to Machu Picchu, where we hike and explore in one
of the most mystical settings in the world. Many travelers rush in and out of
Machu Picchu within a few hours, but our overnight stay at this indescribable
Inca city gives us plenty of time to contemplate its mysteries and enjoy it
without the crowds. We visit the ruins with an expert guide, exploring the
reconstructed ruins of staircases, altars, temples, and fountains, and enjoying its
incredible setting. Overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, set
on a private 12-acre reserve of lush cloud forest filled with orchids and birds...
BLD Machu Picchu: So well hidden in the jungle-covered ramparts of the Cordillera
Vilcabamba that the Spaniards never knew of it, Machu Picchu allows us a
glimpse into the Inca world. American historian Hiram Bingham, who had a
fascination with Peruvian archeology, found the site in 1911 while searching for
the ruins of Vilcabamba, known to be the last place where the rebel Manco II
took refuge. A villager told Bingham about some ruins on a high ridge above
the Urubamba River and led him there; thus, Bingham found the ruins not
of Vilcabamba, but of a mysterious Inca city whose purpose archaeologists
are still theorizing about. He returned in 1912 and 1915 to undertake the
difficult task of clearing the thick forest that had engulfed the ruins. Peruvian
800-368-2794 | 510-558-2488 | [email protected]
5
Itinerary
(cont’d)
archaeologist Luis Valcarcel undertook further studies and vegetation clearing
in 1934, and in 1940 and 1941, a Peruvian-American expedition led by Paul
Fejos did more study. Despite years of excavation, however, not much is known
about the purpose of the city. Archaeologists do know that Machu Picchu was
built, occupied, and then abandoned in the course of 100 years. The Palace of
Princesses, Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Condor, and the astronomical
observatory are only a few of the remarkable restored ruins here. The many
beautiful altars, terraces, fountains, and mysterious chambers display intricate
stonework. Discoveries in the 1980s of many other small ruin sites close to
Machu Picchu have given weight to the theory that Machu Picchu was possibly
the administrative center of a huge and populous region. Whatever Machu
Picchu’s purpose was, it is certainly one of the most stunning archaeological
sites in the world.
DAY 8, NOVEMBER 9
MACHU PICCHU / OLLANTAYTAMBO
This morning offers a final chance to explore and experience mystical Machu
Picchu. We have our last views of the ancient city, then take the afternoon train
back to Ollantaytambo. Transfer to El Albergue for overnight...BL
6
WILDERNESS TRAVEL | www.wildernesstravel.com
DAY 9, NOVEMBER 10
CHINCHERO / HIKE TO THE URUBAMBA VALLEY
We drive up to a high plateau to visit the colonial town of
Chinchero, built on ancient Inca foundations. En route we have
spectacular vistas of the snow peaks of the nearby Urubamba and
distant Vilcabamba ranges. In Chinchero we visit the large colonial
church built directly on top of Inca walls, and walk through the
extensive archaeological site that was believed to have been the
palace of Topa Inca Yupanqui, the tenth Inca king. We enjoy a
traditional lunch provided by Nilda’s family and attend a dyeing
workshop. Return to Cusco for dinner and overnight. Overnight at
the Hotel Picoaga...BLD
DAY 10, NOVEMBER 11
TIPÓN / PITUMARCA
At the foot of Pachatusan, one of the spectacular sacred peaks of
the Cusco Valley, the Incas built a supremely beautiful example of their art:
the water temple and agricultural terraces of Tipón. We first drive to an upper
area of the site that gets almost no tourist traffic, then wind our way downhill
through its intricate terraces, compounds, and stone trails. We then continue
to the weaving cooperative of Pitumarca, where we have a picnic lunch. Here
we meet with weavers from the village of Sallac, who have two different kinds
of weaving styles, one that involves dyeing techniques and the other includes
embroidery. We return to Cusco for dinner on your own and overnight at Hotel
Picoaga...BL
DAY 11, NOVEMBER 12
CUSCO
The day is free in Cusco to explore on your own. Lunch is on your own. In the
evening we gather for a festive Farewell Dinner at Baco, one of Cusco’s top
restaurants. Overnight at Hotel Picoaga...BD
DAY 12, NOVEMBER 13
LIMA / DEPART
Transfer to the airport and fly to Lima. After lunch, we enjoy a walking tour of
Colonial Lima and an afternoon visit to Amano Museum in San Isidro. Transfer
back to the Lima airport for departure on homeward-bound flights...BL
800-368-2794 | 510-558-2488 | [email protected]
7
Trip Cost, Payment & Insurance
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
At time of reservation
90 days prior to departure
TRIP COST
Prices are for 2016
$5295 (14-18 members)
$5595 (10-13 members)
To offer the lowest possible cost, our trips are priced
according to the number of participants on the trip. All
costs are per person, based on double occupancy.
TRIP COST INCLUDES
• Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader
and local guides
• Accommodations in hotels
• Meals as noted in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch,
D=Dinner)
• Internal airfare (Lima/Cusco/Lima)
• Ground transportation
• Entry fees to sites and museums
TRIP COST DOES NOT INCLUDE
International airfare, any meals not specified after each
itinerary day, airport departure taxes, optional tipping
or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights
that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or
other factors, cost of medical immunizations (if any),
travel insurance, and other expenses of a personal nature
(alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).
8
$600
Balance
CANCELLATION AND TRANSFER FEE SCHEDULE
Minimum fee: $250 per person
61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
46-60 days prior to departure: 50%
45 days or less: 100% of trip cost
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance. You
can take advantage of a comprehensive Travel Protection
Plan designed for Wilderness Travel by Trip Mate, or
purchase other insurance on your own. The Trip Mate
policy can only be viewed online at: http://www.tripmate.
com/wpA470W. When you get to the Trip Mate site, click
on the blue hyperlink that says "Click Here for Details,"
then choose "Certificate/Policy" from the menu across the
top of the page. You will be asked for your state of residence
before accessing the plan. To enroll, please submit the green
application form enclosed in your confirmation packet. For
specific questions about the plan, please contact Trip Mate
directly at 800-888-7292.
WILDERNESS TRAVEL | www.wildernesstravel.com
Arrival & Departure
Upon confirming your trip reservation, we will send
you a Welcome Packet that includes a list of documents
(passport, visas, etc.) required for your trip. Please feel free
to call if you would like this information before making
your air arrangements.
The meeting point for the trip is at the Wyndham Costa
del Sol Airport Hotel in Lima, Peru, on Day 1. Departure
is from Lima on Day 12. Complete Arrival & Departure
logistics will be included in your confirmation materials.
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL
You are responsible for making your own arrangements for
flights to and from Lima, Peru. Depending on your routing,
it is necessary to depart from the US at least one day prior
to Day 1 of the trip itinerary. International flights typically
arrive in Lima either very early in the morning or very late
in the evening. Airlines with the most convenient schedules
for this trip include:
American Airlines
(via Miami or Dallas)
800-433-7300
www.aa.com
Delta Airlines
(via Atlanta)
800-241-4141
www.delta.com
Lan Airlines
(via Los Angeles)
866-435-9526
www.lan.com
United Airlines
(via Houston)
Phone: 1-800-864-8331
Website: www.united.com
We recommend at least a two-hour connection time at the
gateway city for the international flight to Lima. Although
shorter connecting times are legal, you want to allow some
time in case your domestic flight is delayed.
The name on your airline ticket must match the name on
your passport exactly, and your passport must be valid for at
least six months after your date of return to the U.S.
Trip Leader
Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders have a passion and a joy for creating an unforgettable journey. We are extremely proud of
them and the incredible travel experiences they make possible. This trip features one of our favorites, Andrea Heckman.
ANDREA HECKMAN
Andrea Heckman has a PhD in Latin American Studies from the University of New Mexico,
with a focus on Anthropology and Art History. She is one of our most beloved leaders
and has traveled and guided in Peru since 1978. In 1996, Andrea spent a year in Peru on a
Fulbright Fellowship. “I want trip members to gain a deep respect for the rich heritage that
the indigenous people of the Andes have inherited from their ancestors. I would hope that trip
members fall in love with Peru, her land, people, llamas and alpacas, textiles and rituals, and
leave with a sense that their hearts have been opened through their experiences here.” Andrea
lives and teaches in Taos, New Mexico, and speaks Spanish as well as the Quechua language.
She is also a widely exhibited weaver and her book Woven Stories: Andean Textiles and Rituals
won a national book award.
800-368-2794 | 510-558-2488 | [email protected]
9
Trip Details
WEATHER
Being so close to the equator, Peru has only two climate
seasons: a dry season from April to October, and a wet
season from December to March. For hiking in the
mountains, the April to October season is ideal; the
countryside is green and lush, the skies are often blue and
sunny, and the mountain vistas are at their clearest and
most magnificent.
Lima lies in a coastal desert where rainfall is rare and
temperatures are usually warm (70s and 80s). Days are
overcast most of the year due to the Humboldt current that
comes up from Antarctica and meets the warm, tropical El
Nino current from the north to create the garua, or coastal
fog/mist.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRIP
Adventure travel often involves exotic destinations, unusual
levels of physical exertion, or activities you may not have
participated in previously. We work hard to help you choose
the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual
interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about
the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this
itinerary, please call Wilderness Travel at 1-800-368-2794
and ask for the Latin America Manager or email us at
[email protected].
Average Daily Max/Min ºF
Feb
Jan
Lima
79/68 80/69
Cusco
64/45 64/46
Rainfall - Inches
Lima
0.0
0.0
Cusco
5.9
4.5
10
Mar
Apr
May
REFERENCES
We’d be happy to put you in touch with a past client that
has traveled with us on this or a similar trip.
TOUCAN CLUB
We are very proud to have one of the highest rates of
repeat travelers in the business, and have established the
Wilderness Travel Toucan Club to reward you for your
loyalty. For more information, Please visit the Toucan Club
page of our website at www.wildernesstravel.com/toucan.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
At www.wildernesstravel.com, you can find out about added
departures, last-minute deals, and special WT Expeditions
that aren’t listed in our catalog. You can also access a
complete library of our detailed itineraries and browse the
customized reading guides for each of our adventures.
HELPFUL LINKS
Wilderness Travel has compiled a list of useful websites
for travelers. Find the Toucan Club tab on the home page
of our website and choose Helpful Links (http://www.
wildernesstravel.com/toucan/links).
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
80/69
65/46
76/66
66/43
72/63
67/39
69/61
66/35
67/60
66/34
66/60
66/37
67/59
67/41
69/61
68/44
72/63
67/45
76/66
66/45
0.0
3.8
0.0
1.5
0.0
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.9
0.1
1.9
0.0
2.7
0.0
4.3
WILDERNESS TRAVEL | www.wildernesstravel.com
Travel Notes
800-368-2794 | 510-558-2488 | [email protected]
11
WILDERNESS TRAVEL HAS BEEN AWARDED:
World’s Best Awards: Travel + Leisure, 5-time winner
50 Tours of a Lifetime: National Geographic Traveler, 8 years in a row
Trip of the Year • Outside Magazine • 5-time winner
Best Outfitters on Earth • National Geographic Adventure • 3-time winner
Magellan Gold Medals • Travel Weekly • for website and catalog
Please be advised that California has established a Travel Consumer Restitution Fund under the California Seller of Travel Law that took effect January 1,
1996. This fund is designed to protect consumers from unscrupulous practices by discount airfare ticket sellers or air charter operators. Unfortunately, this
law does not cover non-California residents and, even in the case of California residents, it does not cover any foreign travel where the foreign “providers
of transportation or travel services” are not in compliance with the Sellers of Travel Law (compliance being defined as registered as a Seller of Travel in
California and a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund). Thus none of Wilderness Travel’s tours qualify and we are required by law to advise
each client that they are not covered by the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. California law requires sellers of travel to maintain a trust account
or bond. This business has a trust account. California Seller of Travel #100769640
While as accurate as possible at the time of printing, this itinerary should be considered an approximate indication of the schedule and scope of activities and
trip routing, rather than an inflexible schedule of events; it is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. This trip is subject to the Limitation
of Liability and all the terms and conditions as detailed in the General Information section of the Wilderness Travel Catalog.
February 9, 2016 11:45 AM